Man accused of shooting Merced deputy caught after high-speed chase that started in Paso

Video: Suspect accused of shooting Merced deputy captured

Merced County Sheriff Vern Warnke said law enforcement officials captured suspect Guadalupe Lopez-Herrera following a lengthy pursuit that started in San Luis Obispo County. Lopez-Herrera is accused of shooting a Merced County Sheriff's Deputy.
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Merced County Sheriff Vern Warnke said law enforcement officials captured suspect Guadalupe Lopez-Herrera following a lengthy pursuit that started in San Luis Obispo County. Lopez-Herrera is accused of shooting a Merced County Sheriff's Deputy.
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Lopez-Herrera allegedly shot the deputy on Wednesday, when investigators were following up on a domestic violence report from the weekend, according to the Sun-Star. He fled the scene and eventually carjacked a white pickup truck.

Lopez-Herrera is in the United States illegally, according to Merced County Sheriff Vern Warnke.

Paso Robles police on Thursday received information that Lopez-Herrera was possibly in the city. His wife’s family members are residents, and he had allegedly threatened them, according to the Sun-Star and Cmdr. Caleb Davis of the Paso Robles Police Department.

Police were stationed outside the family’s house, but none of them made contact with Lopez-Herrera, Davis said.

Shooting suspect Guadalupe Lopez-Herrera, 51, was captured by law enforcement officials following a vehicle pursuit which began in Paso Robles, according to the Merced County Sheriff’s Office. Lopez-Herrera is accused of shooting a Merced deputy in the Dos Palos area on Sept. 4.
Courtesy Merced County Sheriff's Office

About 11:10 a.m., officers located the vehicle Lopez-Herrera allegedly carjacked near Niblick and Creston roads, according to a Paso Robles Police Department news release.

Police initiated a traffic stop, and Lopez-Herrera fled in the vehicle with officers in pursuit. He led police out of the city on Highway 46 East and through Treasury Wine Estates.

Lopez-Herrera was eventually able to get back on Highway 46 East, and he began traveling east at speeds of more than 120 mph.

The CHP Air Operations Division assisted in the pursuit, and officers from the Templeton office took over the chase in the Shandon area.

Paso Robles police assisted with the pursuit until Lopez-Herrera reached I-5 and additional law enforcement officers from various agencies were able to assist the CHP, according to the news release.

A spike strip was deployed around Highway 41 near Reef City, and Lopez-Herrera was eventually apprehended on I-5 north of Kettleman City.

Lopez-Herrera fired one shot at CHP officers before he was taken into custody after the chase ended, according to the Sun-Star.

Anyone with information about Lopez-Herrera is urged to call the Paso Robles Police Department at 805-237-6464 or Crime Stoppers at 805-549-7867.